Apparatus for converting higher-boiling-point hydrocarbon oils into lower-boiling-point hydrocarbon oils



April 6 1926.

M. MCCOMB GHER BOILING POINT HYDROCARBON OILs INTO LowER BOILING'POINT HYDRocARBoN oILs 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HI Filed March 2, 1921 Aprll vf5 1926,. 1,579,554

W.' M. MCCOMB APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HIGHER BOILING POINT HYDROCARBON OILS INTO LOWER BOILING POINT HYDROCARBON OILS Filed March 2, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apr'il 6 1926.

' MC/COMB APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HIGHER BQILING POINT HYDROCARBON Z5 Sheets-Sheet 3 vweuboz W/LL/HM MMC'C'MB gn btom/wt l n OV Oh. O@ ON.

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Filed March 2, 1921 OCW om .blmzzwmLIwmwJ W5 z IIIIIIII l 1 lllllllllllllllll Il. lllllllllllllllllll Il OILS INTO LOWER BOILING POINT HYDROCARBON OILS Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

UNITI-:D STATES PATENT oFFics.

WILLIAM M. MCCOMB, OF NEW YOB-K, N. Y,

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HIGHER-BOILING-POINT HYDROCABBON OILS DTTOQ LOWER-BOILING-IOINT HYDROCARBON OILS.

Application mea Maren 2, 1921. serial No. 449,153.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MoCoMB, a citizen of the United States, 'residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Converting IIigher-Boiling-Point Hydrocarbon Oils into Lower-Boiling-Point Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is a specification.

,This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for carrying out a process `of dissociating higher boiling point hydrocarbons and water into other forms of hydrocarbons and their constituent elements and reassociating the same into lowervboiling point hydrocarbons, wherein the various hydrocarbon compounds are rst progressively heated, and while being heated or vaporized, are intimately associated and commingled with the aqueous vapors of the v water and are afterward dissociated and reassociated in a manner substantially as hereinafter described. The present invention contemplates th provision\ of can' apparatus particularly adapted to carry out the process covered in my Patent No. 1.337,144: dated April 13th, 1920, and also the process covered by m Letters Pate-nt No. 1,374,858, and althougi it will be understoood that the apparatus to be hereinafter described is adapted to carry out other similar processes ois/modifications of the processes of my aforesaid patents it is nevertheless primarily adapted v for the carrying out of the said last two mentioned processes. p

One ofthe principal objects of thepresent invention is to provide iie-w and improved means whereby the various degrees of heat, to which the' hydrocarbon compounds and aqueous vapors are subjected, in their travel through the 'converting coil or vessel, may7 be regulated to a greater nicety F than' itlias been possible to regulate them in apparatus as hitherto constructed.l

Another object of the invention is to simplify t-lie construction of'apparat-us off this.

character, reduce the size of the apparatus andv insure greater safety ofoperation."

A' further objectl of the vinventionis to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein a product of a more uniform character' or quality can be produced .than it has been possible to obtain by the use of apparatus 4hitherto designed to accomplish analogous purposes.

Other objects and aims of the invention,

`more or less specific than those above enumerated, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the invention, and the scope of y the protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying 4drawings wherein I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a view Vin elevation, partly in section, illustrating the same.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one of the hydrocarbon and aqueous vapor converting units.

Figure 3 is a. view similar to Figure 2, showing in a diagrammatic manner the means of applyng the heat to one of the converting units and the means for determining the degree of temperature to which the various parts thereof is being subjected.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the converting tube or vessel, for

instance, on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the mannerv of conducting the converted` material into the condenser.

Figure 6 is a topplan view of one of the pipes or conduits employedpto conduct waterw to the converting tubes or vessels.

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing a converting tube orl vessel associated with a `diagram plotted to scale, showing as coordinates tlie severalaverage boiling points of the material to betreated,l and the per centages of such materials that vaporize ateach particular temperature.

Similar reference characters refer to simila-r parts throughout the several' views of the drawing., l

Before proceeding with a description of the particular,construction of .this form of embodiment of my invention, it may be.

noted that hitherto in-'apparatus employed for oil conversion, no attempt-has been made .to Vprovide meanswhereby the material in conversion in its passage through the oonverting coil will be subjected to such temeratuies that the oil atapoint adjacent the inlet end Aof the coil will be heated.; to a point approximating the initial boiling point, that the temperature of th oil at a point adjacent the outlet end will approximate the end boiling point, and that the temperature f the oil at intermediate points in the coil will increase approximately in the same ratio through the total intervening length of the coil as the boiling point temperatures of the oil increase in ordinary fractional distillation of a sample of the oil under treatment throughout the successive temperatures of its boiling point range, or in other words, to produce an apparatus which will operate in the most scientifically perfect, and economical manner to convert heavy or higher boiling point hydrocarbon into lighter hydrocarbons or hydrocarbons havinglower boilingT points whereby there will be a relatively greater' recovery of commercial or usable lighter .boiling point hydrocarbons with a minimum production of fixed gases and losses through carbon deposits.

In the apparatus. one embodiment of whichI shall now describe, I attain these and other important ends.

Referring now to Figure 1- of the drawings, the reference numeral l denotes a suitable base, upon which the various heating units, presently to be described, are supported. said base lin the present instance supporting a casing 2, the latter being preferably divided into a plurality of compartments 3, 4, 5 and 6 by the partitions 7, 8

and 9.

Located in each of the said compartments is a converting tube or vessel, and inasmuch as said tubes or vessels are similar in all respects, a description of one of them will sufiice to impart aclear understanding of this feature of construction, such tubular vessels being designated 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Each tubular "essel is formed by a tube of uniform diameter bentor turned into a hollow column, providing a downwardly pitched avenue of flow for the liquid to be converted from the top to the bottom of each coil. Preferably the pitch of the tubular structure is increased in a downward direction.

In this embodiment of my invention, I position upon each of the tubes a plurality ot' independent electric heating units, each unit comprising an independent coil, each coil/being connected with a source of current supply. as indicated in the drawings; by means of the leads a., b, c, d, e, f and g, suitable rheostatic devices 14 being provided whereby the temperature of each of said coils may be independently regulated.

These electric heating coils separate the converting tubes or coils into a plurality of zones, that a gradually increasing temperature may be given to said converting coils from the top to the bottom thereof, it being desired to so heat the converting tubes or above described characteristics.

coils that the temperature within the same at the top thereof approximates the initial boiling point of the material under treatment, the temperature of the" material with- `in the coil at a point adjacent the hottest or cracking point or Zone approximating the end or highest boiling point of the volatilizable elements of the material being treated, and the temperature of the intermediate points of the coil increasing from the coolest part or zone at the top of the furnace approximately in the saine ratio with respect to the total intervening length of said coil as the boiling point temperatures of the hydrocarbon oil being treated increase in ordinary fractional distillation, as determined by a sample of the oil under t-reatment throughout the successive portions of its boiling point range.

lVhere I have used the term boiling point in referring to the material under conversion, it is understood, of course, that I refer to boiling points of the hydrocarbon constituents under pressure, which 'boiling points are of course much higher than they would be at atmospheric pressure.

Referring now to the method I adopt in arriving at the length of each of the various zones,V and the degree of heat to be maintained in each of said zones, I first determine by ordinary methods the boiling point characteristics of the given class of hydrocarbon oils to be treated. This I accomplish by carrying on fractional distillation operations upon several samples of the class of oils to be treated. Having determined the boiling point characteristics of the oil as aforesaid, I next plot, in a suitable manner, a diagram to scale, showing as co-ordinates the several average boiling points and the percentages of the materials that vaporize at each particular temperature.

Such average or composite boiling poznt curve shows the average proportionate quantity of such material that boils at the various temperatures within such boiling point range, that is to say, between the initial boiling point and the dry end or final boiling point. Such a plotted scale, and its relation to the converting tube or vessel, is shown in Figure 7 of the drawings,

which has been plotted from an oil distillate having an approximate Vboiling' point range between 450 F. and 850 F. 20 Baume gravity, the curve 15 representing the average boiling point characteristics or several tested samples of oil having the It will be noted that in this embodiment of my in vention I have divided the convertingcoll or tube into seven (7) zones, each of which is supplied with an independent heating coil.

Referring now to Figure 4 ofthe drawings, it will be noted that the tube 16 is surrounded by a coating or layer of insulating material 17, such for instance as mica, that the heating or resistance wire 18 is positioned about said insulating layer 17, and a layer of insulating material, such as mica, 19, is positioned about the resistance Wire 18. The composite tubular structure thus formed is then posftioned Within one of the compartments 6, which is then filled with a body of non-conducting high heat resisting material 20, such for instance as asbestos.

The hydrocarbon material to be converted is drawn from a suitable reservoir 21, by means of the pump 22, and forced by means of saidv pump through the 4 conduit 23, through the condenser or preheater 24, the conduit 25, to a distributing chamber` or reservoir 26, from which lead the conduits 27 28, 29 and 30. The conduit 27 leads to the coil 13, the conduit 28 leads to the coil 12, the conduit 29 to the coil 11, and the conduit 30 to the coil 10, each of said conduits being independently valved,' as indicated generally at 31, and at this point it may be noted that I preferably employ a plurality of valves in each conduit,fso that the supply of hydrocarbon material to each of theconverting vessels may be regulated to a nicety. A preferable arrangement of these valves, is to have them of different size, the valves with the larger orifices being disposed nearest the source of supply. y

The reference numeral 32 indicates a pump, which is adapted to draw water from any suitable source of supply, and pump the same through a coil 33, which may be suitably heated as by means of the burner 34. The .heated Water passes from the coil 33 through the conduit, 35, whence it passes through the conduits 36, 37, 38 and 39, to the several converting tubes or coils. A

In order that the supply of water toeach of the converting vessels may be accurately regulated, I form each of the conduits 36 to 39 inclusive, as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings,`that is to sav, I divide each ot said conduits into a plurality of branches 40 and 41.

These branches spring from the fitting 42,

and are again` joined to the conduit36 by means of the fitting 43. Located in each 0f?- the branches 40 and 41 is a plurality of needle valves 44, 45, 46 and 47. The object of providing this construction, together with the Valves and the branches is to provide a means whereby the discharge of water through the conduit may be accurately adiusted.

Conduit 35 is provided with a meter illustrated at 48, and each of the conduits 36 to 39 inclusive, are also provided with meters, indicated at 49. The conduit 36 leads to the coil 10, the conduit 37 to the coil- 11,the conduit 38 to the coil 12. and the conduit 39 to the coil 13. Each of the coils lOfto 13 inclusive at its upper end is provided with a fitting which forms a common means for.

conducting the hydrocarbon material and water into the upper end of the coil, it being preferable to discharge the hydrocarbon material into the coil at a point above the avenue of flow of the water or aqueous thermocouples being indicated at 52, 53, 54,-

55, 56, 57 and 58. It will of course be understood that if desired, such other number of these thermocouples may be provided in the converting tubesias may be necessryto aid in the determination and regulation of the heat. y

T he hydrocarbon oil and water, or water vapor, as above described, are fed under pressure into the upper ends of the converting coils to the fittings 50, in the manner already described, the proportion of the quantity of water to the hydrocarbon ma.- terial to be converted to be fed into the coil being determined on the basis of the specific heat of the hydrocarbon material to be converted.

Located in each of the tubular converting coils and at the lower end thereof, is a. body of high specific heat 59. This hody may be formed of various materials heretofore utilized in a similar relation, such for insta-nce as nickle, chromium, orimolybdenum, the coils being enlarged at these points to form chambers for the reception' of .these bodies of high specific heat. These bodies of high specific heat are, of course, located in the lowermost or hottest zone of. the converting coils.

Each coil at its lower end is provid'- ed with a fitting 60, from which leads. a conduit adapted to conduct the converted products to the condenser, said fitting GO forming a housing for a heat measuring device, such for instance as the thermocouple 6l, the latter extending into the lower end of the converting coil, so thatthe internal tempera-ture in the vicinity of or curved or bent tubing, as shown, so as to avoid angles or fittings which would ten-d to obstruct the passage of the converted products.

Each of the conduits 62 to 65 leads into a tar trap, said tar traps being indicated at 66, 67, 68 and 69, and leading from the tar traps 66 to 69 inclusive, are the conduits 70, 71, 72 and 73, each being independently valved as at 74. Conduits 79 to 73 inclusive lead into a common iitting 76 provided with a pressure gauge 77, and from this fitting 76 leads a conduitJ 78, the latter conduit leading to the preheater or condenser 24. The condenser or preheating apparatus 21 consists of a series of concentric, pipes, preferably disposed in the relation shown. Each length of the pipe is composed of an inner and outer conduit concentrically arranged and spaced apart so that two continuous conduits are provided from lone end to the other of the preheater or condenser. The raw material is forced through the outer conduit and is heated by the condensing converted material. In other words, the converted material is discharged through a conduit provided in the condense-r, or from heater 24, which is entirely surrounded by a conduit, through which is forced the raw material. This apparatus, therefore. forms the double function of preheating the raw material and of cooling and condensing the converted material.

Each of the tar traps 66 to 69 inclusive are provided with discharge conduits 79, which lead into a common discharge conduit 80, through which the tar is discharged into a tar tank not shown.

Leading from the condenser or preheater 24 is a conduit 81, through which the condensed converted material` together with the gases, pass into a receiving tank 82, said conduit 81 being preferably formed into branches 83 and 84, which lead through a look-box 85, whence the gases and converted hydrocarbons are discharged into the said receiving tank 82. The conduit 81 is provided with a pressure gauge 86.

In the receiving tank the gaseous and liquid products separate, the liquid products passing through the conduit 87 int-o the tank 88, where the converted hydrocarbon and water are separated, the hydrocarbon material passing through the conduit. 89 to the intermediate storage tank 90, from which leads the conduit 91. This last mentioned conduit conducts the finished converted product to a storage tank not shown.

The fixed gases pass from the chamber 82, through the conduit 92, to the gas tank 93, whence they are discharged through the conduit 94 to the storage tank not shown.

I realize of course that many chan-ges can be made in the apparatus just described without departing from the spirit of my i11- vention, and it is to be understood that the matter contained in the above descriptionand shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense. The gas tank 93 is maintained under a small vacuum by means of a suction blower not shown, the gauge 102 indicating the degree of vacuum attained.

Located in the branch conduits 83 and 84 are valves 95 and 96, which may be employed to regulate the' pressure in the entire apparatus. There is also provided a valve 97 in the conduit 92 Which may be employed for a similar purpose. Ihe gauges 86 and 97 located in the conduits 81 and 92 respectively, register the pressure and determine the operation of the valves 95, 96 and 9 A meter 99 is provided in the raw material conducting conduit 25 and a thermometer 100 is provided in the distributing box 26. Thermometers 101 are also provided in the conduits leading to each of the converting coils so that the temperature of the ingoing oil and aqueous vapors or water may be determined.

Having thus described my invention, and the manner in Which the same is performed, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tubular continuous spiral coil arranged With'its axis vertical for converting hydrocarbon material, the lower turns of the said coil having increased inclination to accelerate the passing material,

and a plurality of electric heating units operatively associated therewith.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tubular continuous spiral coil arranged with its axis vertical for converting hydrocarbon material, the lower turns of the said coil having increased inclination to accelerate the passing material, and a plurality of independent electric heating units operatively associated therewith.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a tubular spirally formed converting coil, the said coil having its axis lvertically arranged and the lower turns of 5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a spirally formed converting coil, the said coil having its-axis vertically Yarranged and the lower turns of thecoil having increased inclination to accelerate the passing material, a plurality of independent electrical heating units mountedl upon said coil, and means for regulating the amount of current supplied to eachof said units. 5-

6. In apparatus 'of the class described, in

combination, avertically disposed sinuouslyl formed tube adapted vfor theconvers'ion of hydrocarbon material, the lower portions of rality' of independent electricv heating unitsv disposed one above. each other upon saidthe tube having successively Vincreased inclinations to accelerate the passing material,

means for discharging said h drocarbon material into the upper end o said chamber, means for discharging converted products from the lower end of said tube, and a plutube.

7 In.' apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a converting unit-for hydrocar.

bon material comprising a verticallyA disposed, spirally formed tube, the lower turns of the said tube being'given greater inclina.-

tion to accelerate the passing materialk 8. In apparatus of theiclass described, in

l pluralit of the lower end of said tube, `abodyof high l specific heat located in 'the lower end of said tube and disposed in the avenue of flow of the material under conversion, and a independent heating -units mounte upon said tube and adapted to heat the contents of the latter to varying degrees ofI temperature, and' also adapted to heat said body of lhigh specific heat.

` 9.- In apparatus'of'theclass described, in combination, a plurality of heating unit-s each comprising acoil, means for dischargL ing measured quantities offwater and hydrocarbon material into the upper end of said coils, a body of highv specific heat located in the' lower end of each of' said coils and. in the avenue of How of thematerial under conversion, a single condenser for allv of Said converting units, means for discharging converted hydrocarbon products into said condenser, means for forcing the raw hydrocarbon materials through said condenser whereby the latter will be preheated by the condensation of the converted products, yand means vfor electrically heating said converting units. t 1

.In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

WILLIAM M. MCooMB. 

